Tips for Landing a Career at Your Father’s Software Company

By Brad Austin

Oct. 6, 2016

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CreditCreditErik Carter

Finding a career that’s right for you at your father’s software company is one of the more difficult tasks you will encounter as you enter your 30s. But it can be exciting, too! If you set realistic goals and put your mind to it, there’s no reason you won’t find gainful employment at the company your father runs.

Where to start? Your imagination runs wild, picturing all the possible careers. So many careers, you can’t name them all. You can’t name any of them. You don’t know what goes on at your father’s software company. (Is it a software factory? Is it a store?) All you know is there are careers there that involve software and you have a pretty good shot at getting one because the company belongs to your father. So let’s do this.

First things first. Let’s get you an interview with your father.

Scoring the Interview

It shouldn’t be too hard to land the initial interview with Dad, provided you know some basic things about him. Where does he like to hang out? At home? Nice. Then you can just go downstairs. Living with your parents provides a tremendous advantage here. Go to the TV room, where he watches golf and takes naps. Uh-oh, what if he’s napping when you arrive for the interview? Is it O.K. to reschedule? Sorry, Charlie. This is your career we’re talking about, and it can’t wait.

What Should I Wear to the Interview?

If your dad wakes to see you standing over him dressed in a suit, it could frighten him. Is his son a spy? Casual is the way to go here. The yellow golf shirt he bought you at the U.S. Senior Open he dragged you to three years ago is an excellent choice. He’ll be proud to see you finally wearing it, and it’s made of a polyester compound with moisture-wicking fibers that reduce sweating. You’ll need all the help you can get in that department. This isn’t just another day on the links playing nine holes with Dad, a thing you’ve never done!

Waking Up Your Father for the Interview

Be sure you’ve done the proper research on Dad. Does he like to be woken up gently? Abruptly? Not at all? Is he the type who’s embarrassed to be caught napping? Does he prize naps above all else, and woe to the poor soul who wakes him in hopes of scoring a career at his software company? These are things to think about when waking up your father.

Beginning the Interview

So, there you are with your newly awake father. Ease into things. If golf is on, try, “Hey, sleepyhead, you’re missing one heck of a golf match.” But be sure you know what would constitute one heck of a golf match and that the golf match on television matches those criteria.

Ask for What You Want

It’s up to you to decide how long to watch golf in silence with your father before bringing up needing a job. Don’t wait too long, he’s getting sleepy again! Don’t say: “Oh, a commercial. Can I have a job?” Try this instead: “Oh, a commercial. I’ll read some of this amazing book now.” What does your father see you reading? A book about software, called “Introduction to the Very Interesting World of Software” or something. “I didn’t know you were interested in software,” he’ll say. “Oh, yes,” you’ll say. “Say, don’t you have a software company?” Nod your head with a serious face as your dad talks about software. Boy oh boy, are you ever listening! What a good listener my son is, your father is thinking. I wonder if he’s interested in doing whatever goes on at my software company.

Get the Gig!

Ask questions. What are all the jobs done at the software company?Which pays best? Is it a factory, or a store or what? Tell your dad you’re fielding offers from several companies that do stuff with software — Microsoft, RadioShack, the biggies. At this point, he’ll most likely make an offer of his own. Tell him you’ll give it some serious thought, and bid him good day. And that’s it! You’re in. Go tell your mom she’d better make your favorite enchiladas, because you have some big, big news to share with the family at supper. Then, with head held high, return to your upstairs childhood bedroom.